Quote From: nascar_fan_48I am 37 year old wife and mother of 2. I work full time on my feet all 8-10 hours. My problem is that I have plantar fascitis (not sure I spelled it right) in both my feet. I bought the turbo jam workout and love it, but OMG, it hurts my feet so bad. I'm in a catch 22. If I lose weight, which I desperately want to do, my feet will feel better, but even simple walking feels like I'm going to collapse. After working all day or night, my feet hurt so bad that all I can do is sit with them elevated and then when I try to get up, the pain is so bad it has brought me to tears. I take tons of ibruprofen and sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. And now I have high blood pressure. (just keeps gettin better huh?) So, I have to be careful what I take for the pain as well as what I eat and drink and UGH..... Sometimes it's just all so overwhelming that I take a sleep aid at 5 pm so I don't have to deal with it. I k now this is wrong, but so is this pain and rutt that I'm in. I use to walk 3 times a day, and had lost 50 lbs. I've gained every bit of that back because the pain in so bad. If anyone could help me with some ideas of how to get the foot pain under control, I would be eternally grateful. If I could walk in the evenings again without wanting to cut my feet off, that would be so awesome. I know all the right steps and I love Dr. Phil's weight loss solutions, I just don't know what to do anymore about the pain. I have tried cortisone. It worked once, but didn't the second time. Thanks in advance for any help and I promise not to ever be this whiney again.
Thanks again,
Wendy
Hi Wendy!!!
Thanks for dumping your guts and acknowledging your barriers to success. Barriers can be broken and we'll help you all we can. I had a bout with planter fascitis many years ago and the pain was worse than childbirth!!!! It took a lot of work and persistence on my part but I never gave up and eventually was able to beat it!
First, you have to stretch, stretch, stretch!!!! Not only your plantar fascia, but your heel cords as well. Especially in the morning because your muscles have tightened up overnight. Yes, it hurts, do it anyway!!!! No pain, No gain!!!
Second, thermal therapy. Heat or ice. Here's where it gets a little tricky. What works for one person may not work for you. Usually ice works best initially, 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off for 20 - 30 minutes a couple of times a day, taking care not to cause frostbite. Heat usually works best for chronic pain, heating pad for 15 - 20 minutes a couple of times a day. I say Usually, because for some people the opposite is true... You have to play with it to see what works best for you.
Third, you need to rest your feet. Avoid walking or standing for extended periods of time. This will be a big problem for you with your job, but where there is a will, there is a way!!! Perhaps you could do another job function until you are healed. A letter from your doctor ordering light duty or a temporary sedentary position would go a long way in your healing.
Fourth, get a REALLY good pair of supportive shoes, (no matter how ugly they are!!!! And they WILL be ugly!!!) (and expensive....sorry.....) and be sure to have a really good pair of orthotics to prevent internal rotation of your feet. Tight muscles will make your feet want to naturally pronate, the worst possible position for your feet.
Fifth, with your Dr.'s blessing, take an NSAID like aleve around the clock. If your Doc has prescribed meds, take them EXACTLY as ordered, no skipping doses.
Lastly, (for now, I can't think of anything else....) Get a handicap pass and use the motorized handicap buggy at the store. I may get A LOT of flack for this, but hear me out please!!!!
You HAVE to rest your feet and keep the weight off of them!!! You didn't say how much you weigh, but hey, you're here with us on the 100 Lb club so that's a no brainer. If you are spending 8-10 hours a day on your feet when you HAVE to, then you need to be OFF of them when you don't have to. If you do this for a couple of weeks, you should have the muscles stretched, the inflammation reduced and the pain in better control.
THEN you will be able to do 20 - 30 minutes of continuous exercise about 3 times a week!!! Pre-medicate about 20 minutes before exercising, Stretch before you begin and ice when you are done. It will take planning and it will be a chore, but once again, no pain, no gain!!!
YOU CAN DO THIS, WENDY!!!! I have COMPLETE faith in you!!!!
LOSERS DON'T MAKE EXCUSES!!!!
Patti
PS ~~~ when my plantar fascitis went away, it was just GONE. Woke up morning and it had completely disappeared!!!! Had it for almost a year. So there IS hope!!!!
